Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Hon. Gordon Campbell - Premier of British Columbia

Our Father in heaven,

Lord, I thank you that you are the author and architect of the life of our Premier, the Honorable Gordon Campbell. You have called him into being, you have gifted him for leadership. I pray, along with others here in his home riding of West Point Grey, that you will grant him, beyond the common: wisdom to understand the times and to lead accordingly, peacemaking skill to bring together that which has been broken, a teachable spirit to learn and to excel, blessing and protection for his personal and family life and deep-rooted character to leave a legacy that far outshines any mere accomplishment. You, Lord, have instructed us to pray for those in authority over us and I do so today with anticipation that you will do even more than what we ask for.

I pray all of this in the name of Jesus, Amen.

Gordon Campbell was sworn in as British Columbia's 34th Premier on June 5, 2001.

Mr. Campbell was elected leader of the B.C. Liberal Party in September 1993. He was elected to the B.C. Legislature in 1994 in a by-election to represent the riding of Vancouver-Quilchena and was re-elected in 1996, 2001, 2005, and 2009 for Vancouver-Point Grey.

Mr. Campbell attended public school in Vancouver. After graduating he received a scholarship to Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. He worked his way through university in the dining hall and as the associate to the secretary of the college, and received his Bachelor of Arts degree. He later received a Master's of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University.

He was a secondary school teacher, basketball and track coach in Yola, Nigeria, working under the auspices of CUSO. He then became an assistant to former Vancouver mayor Art Phillips. From 1976 to 1981, he worked with Marathon Realty, where he became general manager of development. In 1981, he founded Citycore Development Corporation.

In 1984, Mr. Campbell was elected to Vancouver City Council. From 1986 to 1993, he served as Mayor of Vancouver for three successive terms.

Mr. Campbell and his wife Nancy, a school vice-principal, have two sons.